He shows up unannounced and plays board games by his own rules. He gobbles up rocket ice pops and Toaster Tarts. Shakelikes to play street hockey or space explorers. He collects treasures in the pouch he wears around his neck, and the books on his shelves are alphabetized by author. Shermylikes to read quietly in the shade of a tree.

That’s because Shake is nothing like Shermy.

When a new kid comes to stay with his grandmother at the house next door, Shermy’s plans for a quiet, relaxing summer are completely upended. Will summer break be a drag or a blast for meticulous Shermy when rambunctious Shake moves in next door? From Newbery Honor recipient Kirby Larson comes a bighearted chapter book about two boys’ friendship. She lives in Kenmore, Washington with her husband. Her forthcoming titles include Shermy and Shake, the Not So Nice Neighbor (Candlewick, May 2023), the first in a new series of illustrated chapter books and Gut Reaction (Scholastic, March 2024), her debut contemporary middle grade novel, co-written with her daughter Quinn Wyatt. She also has written picture books and novels for American Girl and the Dear America series. She has gone on to write the acclaimed Dogs of World War II series - Duke, Dash (winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction), Liberty, and Code Word Courage and the Audacity Jones series, which received an Edgar nomination.

With Mary Nethery, she is the author of the New York Times bestselling picture book Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle (with Major Brian Dennis) and Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival. Her debut novel Hattie Big Sky won the Newbery Honor and was a New York Times bestseller. Twenty Santa Comes Early - ch.Kirby Larson is the award-winning and bestselling author of numerous books for young readers. Fifteen Situation Normal, All Fouled Up (SNAFU) - ch. Eleven No More Pencils, No More Books! - ch. One Are You Doing Everything You Can? - ch. Prairie Pasque Children's Book Award, 2015-2016Ĭh. In 1944 Hobie Hanson's father is flying B-24s in Europe, so Hobie decides to donate his beloved German shepherd, Duke, to Dogs for Defense in the hope that it will help end the war sooner-but when he learns that Duke is being trained for combat he is shocked, frightened and determined to get his dog back

Duke by Kirby Larson